Street signs and advertising
A walk down Stockwell Road to Brixton
(© urban75, 27th Oct 2008)

With yet another weekend tube closure affecting the Victoria Line, I walked from Stockwell tube into Brixton rather than wait for the (inevitably) long-delayed bus. Here's a few pics I took on the way.


The fine - but run down - Victorian frontage of Joseph Yates Timber Merchants at 17-19 Stockwell Road, SW9.


Old painted advertisement for the pioneering photojournalism magazine, Picture Post.

First published in 1938, the magazine was an immediate smash with the public, shifting 1,350,000 copies a week and featuring the work of a talented team of writers and photographers, including the famous Bert Hardy.

Not afraid to confront political and social issues, the magazine ran a campaign against the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany before the war.

In January 1941, they published their 'Plan for Britain,' which was a radical document demanding minimum wages throughout industry, full employment, child allowances, a national health service, the planned use of land and education reform.

Despite the war, the Picture Post was selling 950,000 copies a week in December 1943, reaching a circulation of 1,422,000 by 1949 and raking in healthy profits in excess of £2,500 a week.

The left wing editor, Tom Hopkinson, was often in conflict with the Tory owner, Edward G. Hulton, who complained in 1945 that, "I cannot permit editors of my newspapers to become organs of Communist propaganda. Still less to make the great newspaper which I built up a laughing-stock."

In 1950, the editor sent James Cameron and Bert Hardy to cover the Korean War, and one of the pieces they sent back was about how South Koreans were treating their political prisoners.

The boss considered their report to be "communist propaganda" and forced Hopkinson to resign.

Several journalists promptly refused to continue working for the magazine and left, and by June 1952 the circulation had plummetted to 935,000.

Sales continued to decline, and after crashing to 600,000 copies a week, the magazine closed for good in May 1957.

Picture Post history




Shaving Saloon, just off Stockwell Green.


No longer respelendent in a bright blue paint job, the J Bar was finally closed down in October 2006 after a long turbulent history was capped off by a police raid unearthing two loaded handguns and drugs.


Entrance to Brady's function room.

The much loved pub has remained closed for many years, despite the best efforts of locals to reopen it and use it as a community resource.


Long surviving painted sign - complete with pointing finger - for 'Our Sons Mens Wear' on 18-22 Electric Avenue, central Brixton.


c. 1915. Advertisement for 'Our Sons' mens outfitters, offering 'Clothing at Pre-War Values'.
[Lambeth Landmark]






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